Grout color matching article and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A container for holding a grout sample, said container having five walled sides, and one open side, wherein one walled side defines a base of the container and the open side provides access to a cavity, said cavity bounded by four walled sides and a floor defined by said base; and grout placed within said cavity.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/251,440 filed Oct. 14, 2009 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an article in combination with contents comprising:

a. a container with five walled sides, and one open side, wherein one walled side defines a base of said container, said open side provides access to a cavity bounded by four walled sides and a floor defined by said base; b. having grout within said cavity.

The container is substantially transparent or translucent. The container walls are each defined by an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface.

In one embodiment either the longitudinal, latitudinal, or both of the outer wall surfaces are each substantially perpendicular to the base the corresponding inner wall surfaces have an inward slope such that the inner wall surface angles outward in an angle greater than 90° relative to the base.

In another embodiment, the container walls are constructed such that either the longitudinal, latitudinal, or both of the outer wall surfaces and the corresponding inner wall surfaces have an inward slope such that the inner wall surface angles outward in an angle greater than 90° relative to the base.

Also contemplated is a kit for selecting grout comprising:

a. a plurality of containers as described herein; b. a holder constructed and arranged to hold said containers.

The kit holder is formed of transparent or translucent material.

The present invention further includes a method of selecting grout comprising:

providing a grout container as described herein; placing grout in said container; providing indicia identifying particular grout contained in said grout container; selecting at least one grout after viewing grout in said container; identifying the selected grout based on the indicia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the empty grout container.

FIG. 1 a is a top view of the grout container filled with grout.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the grout container.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section along section lines A-A from FIG. 1 of an empty grout container.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section along section lines A-A from FIG. 1 a of a container filled with grout.

FIG. 5 is a cross section along section lines B-B from FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the grout container whereby the outer wall surface is perpendicular to the base, and the inner wall surface angles outward at greater than 90° relative to the base.

FIG. 6 is a cross section along section lines B-B from FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the grout container whereby each of the outer wall surface and the inner wall surface angles outward at greater than 90° relative to the base.

FIG. 7 shows a plurality of grout containers together forming a grout selection kit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Container 10 has walls 5, 6, 7 and 8, each of which are defined respectively by a first longitudinal outer wall surface 12 and a first longitudinal inner wall surface 13; a second longitudinal outer wall surface 14 and a second longitudinal inner wall surface 15; a first latitudinal outer wall surface 16 and, a first latitudinal inner wall surface 17; and a second latitudinal outer wall surface 18 and a second latitudinal inner wall surface 19. Container 10 has a floor 9, defined by an outer floor surface portion 20 and an inner floor surface portion 21. Each of inner wall surfaces 13, 15, 17, and 19 as well as inner floor surface portion 21 define inner cavity 22. Inner cavity 22 is constructed and arranged to receive grout 24 therein.

Container 10 is formed of any substantially transparent material including, but not limited to glass, plastic, polymers, composites, combinations thereof, and the like. Container 10 may optionally be formed with walls of a material exhibiting varying degrees of translucence, as long as the translucent properties do not interfere with the ability to view the grout color through the walls.

Container 10 is constructed and arranged with an open top portion in which cavity 22 is accessed. Cavity 22 is filled with grout 24. A plurality of containers 10 are provided as a matching kit 30 for arrangement of a plurality of containers 10. Each container 10 preferably contains a respective grout of a different color or shade. In use, a person can view the various grout samples and colors and make a selection as to any desired grout for a particular use by comparing the grout in container 10 to a specific object that would be used with grout e.g. tile. The container 10 would be filed with grout 24 and a plurality of containers would be filled with grout of different colors.

The transparent walls 5, 6, 7 and 8 and floor 9 of container 10 provide greater visible area for comparison of grout types and colors.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, not drawn to scale, the container 10 has a first longitudinal outer wall surface 12 a and a first longitudinal inner wall surface 13 a; a second longitudinal outer wall surface 14 a and a second longitudinal inner wall surface 15 a. Container 10 further has an outer floor surface 20 a and an inner floor surface 21 a. Inner floor surface 21 a has formed thereon floor textured relief 25 a. Textured relief 25 a provides a plurality of raised topographical structures constructed and arranged to receive and facilitate retention of a grout sample placed in interior cavity 22 a.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, each of first longitudinal outer wall surface 12 a and a second longitudinal outer wall surface 14 a are substantially perpendicular to outer floor surface 20 a. Each of first longitudinal inner wall surface 13 a and second longitudinal inner wall surface 15 a are not perpendicular to inner floor portion 21 a, but have an angular orientation sloping inward and downward such that distance C is less than distance D, as shown in FIG. 5. The inward slope shown in FIG. 5 is not drawn to scale and the degree of angular orientation is varied as desired in order to assist in the filling of cavity 22 a with grout 24. The inward slope forms an angle such that inner wall surfaces 13 a and 15 a such that the inner wall surface angle outward in an angle greater than 90° relative to the inner base surface 21 a.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, not drawn to scale, each of first longitudinal outer wall surface 12 a, second longitudinal outer wall surface 14 a, first longitudinal inner wall surface 13 a, and second longitudinal inner wall surface 15 a are not perpendicular to inner floor portion 21 a, but each have an angular orientation sloping inward and downward as shown in FIG. 6. The inward slope shown in FIG. 6 and the degree of angular orientation is varied as desired in order to assist in the filling of cavity 22 a with grout 24. The inward slope forms an angle such that outer wall surfaces 12 a and 14 a and corresponding inner wall surfaces 13 a and 15 a angle outward in an angle greater than 90° relative to the inner base surface 21 a.

The present invention also provides a kit 30 with a plurality of transparent grout containers 10. Each container 10 is filled with a particular color and/or type of grout 24. The user need not look at only the opening, but can view color and grout type from any angle and from or through any of the walls 5, 6, 7, 8 or Floor 9. The kit 30 is contemplated to be used in a method of selecting a grout type and/or color having the steps of:

-   -   providing a grout container;     -   placing grout in the grout container;     -   providing indicia identifying particular grout contained in         grout container;     -   selecting at least one grout after viewing grout in a grout         container;     -   identifying the selected grout based on the indicia.

The method further contemplates providing a kit 30 with more than one grout container 10 and providing a plurality of grout colors and types for one to compare and ultimately select a particular grout. Containers 10 in kit 30 can be placed immediately adjacent to one another, or may have space between each container 10 as shown in FIG. 7. Kit 30 has a floor 31 in which containers 10 are placed thereon. The placement encompasses filling cavity 22 substantially full of grout 24 and removing excess grout 24 that is filled above the top of any of walls 5, 6, 7, and/or 8.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An article in combination with contents comprising: a. a container with five walled sides, and one open side, wherein one walled side defines a base of said container, said open side provides access to a cavity bounded by four walled sides and a floor defined by said base; b. grout placed within said cavity.
 2. The container of claim 1 said walled sides are transparent.
 3. The container of claim 1 said walled sides are translucent.
 4. The container of claim 1 wherein each walled side is defined by an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface.
 5. The container of claim 4 wherein said outer wall surface is substantially perpendicular to said base and said inner wall surface has an inward slope from a top portion of said wall towards a floor portion of said container such that inner wall surface angles outward in an angle greater than 90° relative to said base.
 6. The container of claim 4 wherein each of said inner wall and said outer wall has an inward slope from a top portion of said wall towards a floor portion of said container such that inner wall surface angles outward in an angle greater than 90° relative to said base.
 7. A kit for selecting grout comprising a. a plurality of containers according to claim 1; b. a holder constructed and arranged to hold said containers.
 8. The kit of claim 7, wherein said holder is formed of transparent material.
 9. A method of selecting grout comprising: providing a grout holder container according to claim 1; placing grout in said container; providing indicia identifying particular grout contained in said grout container; selecting at least one grout after viewing grout in said container; identifying the selected grout based on the indicia.
 10. A material sampling device comprising: a container having walls defining a channel, said walls being formed of a substantially transparent material; said channel having grout disposed therein. 